From a thermometer to Motion Sense, Google Pixel phones have their share of gimmicks. So we decided to rank them.
Google announced the Pixel 8 series this week, and one of the more perplexing additions is a temperature sensor or thermometer. It’s not the first phone with a thermometer, but it certainly makes for an unusual feature.
That got us wondering whether this was the most gimmicky feature we’ve ever seen on Pixel phones. So we decided to rank every Pixel gimmick from best to worst (obviously starting with the best).1. Active Edge
Google’s Pixel 2 series brought the Active Edge feature to Pixels back in 2017. The feature, conjured up by HTC, allowed you to squeeze the sides of the phone to activate Google Assistant.
It was well-received by critics and enthusiasts for the most part, but 2019’s Pixel 4 series would be the last Pixels to offer Active Edge capabilities. It was a cool addition while it lasted, but the Quick Tap function (double-tapping the back of the phone) has since replaced it.2. Dual selfie cameras
2018’s Pixel 3 phones were the first Pixels with dual selfie cameras. The Pixel 3 series offered two similar 8MP shooters, with one camera being used for ultrawide selfies (97-degree FoV) and the other being used for solitary snaps (75-degree FoV).
It was a neat idea and one we’ve seen on loads of phones before and since. But the likes of LG and Samsung have shown that you can get both standard and wide shots by simply using a single, wider, selfie camera.
